I was intrigued by the claims I had been hearing about this piece of aluminium fitted with a clamp and decided to get in touch with TSO products and ask for one to be shipped over to Australia for me to have a play around with. No affiliate with this company, just asked and they gave. Let me know what you think of it.

Festool USA does not pre-approve the contents of this website nor endorse the application or use of any Festool product in any way other than in the manner described in the Festool Instruction Manual. To reduce the risk of serious injury and/or damage to your Festool product, always read, understand and follow all warnings and instructions in your Festool product's Instruction Manual. Although Festool strives for accuracy in the website material, the website may contain inaccuracies. Festool makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of the material on this website or about the results to be obtained from using the website. Festool and its affiliates cannot be responsible for improper postings or your reliance on the website's material. Your use of any material contained on this website is entirely at your own risk. The content contained on this site is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.

Good stuff, always enjoy your videos. Today my 18 month old took a liking to the way you say "how are you" at the beginning of your vids...lol...that's all he said for the remainder of the evening.

I have been enjoying my GRS-16-PE. One comment about your video - I think you mentioned both models fit in a systainer. I think that's only true of the GRS-16, not the PE version. Or I've been missing something with mine all this time!

Logged

"What you have to do tomorrow, do today. What you have to do today, do now." - a wise grandfather who was clearly talking about purchasing Festools

Good stuff, always enjoy your videos. Today my 18 month old took a liking to the way you say "how are you" at the beginning of your vids...lol...that's all he said for the remainder of the evening.

I have been enjoying my GRS-16-PE. One comment about your video - I think you mentioned both models fit in a systainer. I think that's only true of the GRS-16, not the PE version. Or I've been missing something with mine all this time!

My GRS16-PE will not fit in the Systainer for my TSC55, not without removing all the foam.I was able to slide a second blade in its package on the left behind the dust bag. It fits sowell that I would swear the spot was made to house a spare blade.

@Bob D. - could you post a picture of the arrangement you describe?Hans

Sure, here ya go.

Please excuse the blurry pics, was working with one hand and trying to get these up before I headed out the door this morning.

First photo is GRS16-PE with the TSC55 in the Systainer and trying to slip it in behind the saw. No room there or anywhere else.

Second photo is with the saw removed, no luck.

Third, fourth, and fifth photos show the space behind the dust bag where a second blade can be stored, and that if the blade is removed the GRS will not fit even if the dust bag is removed. The GRS will fit, but you can't get the saw in there also which makes it a non-starter and if I can't bring the dust bag with me then that kills a major advantage of the cordless saw.I could pack the GRS and drag the dust bag outside the Systainer, but then I might as well do that for the GRS which would be less likely to get damaged if packed loose than the dust bag would. Might be able to fashion a way to secure it to the exterior of the Systainer, maybe a thin pocket across the back with a Velcro flap. Make it the width and depth of the Systainer and have two pockets, each one capable of holding a GRS vertically. I think two would fit side-by-side. But the second pocket would more likely be used to hold someother accessory, maybe there is enough width to slip a spare blade in there.

Well some quick checks revealed that the GRS16-PE is too tall (long) to stand up in a pocket attached to the outside of a Systainer, and too wide to go horizontally unless the flap for the pocket was on the side not the top.

Here's a coupe photos to illustrate what I am talking about.

First photo shows the GRS16-PE standing alongside a blade, there is not enough width for the blade. It looks like there is enough height below the lid but because of the way the lid is hinged there isn't (see photo #4).

Second and third photos show the GRS on its side. It would be a tight fit inside a exterior pocket attached to the Systainer, probably not a good choice.

Fourth photo shows the GRS standing behind the Systainer with the lid open.You can see the GRS is too high to be positioned in a vertical orientation in apocket attached to the exterior of the Systainer mounted on the back, might work if mounted on the side of the Systainer though as no interference with the lid when opened.

I tried three times to submit these photos so they would display upright, no dice. Tried resizing them to less than 250K, tried renaming them so the server wouldn't use a cached version from the previous post. I stripped all personnel information out of the photos. They all display correctly on my computer and so did the photos in my previous post which I took only minutes before and also processed the same way (resized and removed personnel info). They all display correctly. Of these fouronly the third photo is being displayed in the correct orientation, the rest are rotated90° to the left.

Too bad there is no way to correct this AFTER the image is uploaded and you can see if it's displayed correctly or not. Even a simple 90° rotate function would be great. Doesn't seem like too much to expect this being the 21st century. Heck we put a man on the Moon over 50 years ago and we still can't get this right. Amazing.

@Bob D. I wonder how old your GRS-16 PE is. Newer PE's fit in the Systainer behind the saw. The original GRS-16 fits behind the TS-55 saw tilted. So either GRS-16 version will be fit. Tariq in the UK figured that out and posted a picture on the FOG quite some time ago

I'll post pictures later today.Hans

Logged

TSOproducts.com

Home of the GRS-16 and GRS-16 PE Guide Rail Squares - the MTR-18 Triangle and Work Holding solutions

@Bob D. I wonder how old your GRS-16 PE is. Newer PE's fit in the Systainer behind the saw. The original GRS-16 fits behind the TS-55 saw tilted. So either GRS-16 version will be fit. Tariq in the UK figured that out and posted a picture on the FOG quite some time ago

I'll post pictures later today.Hans

How 'old' can it be, they only came out a couple months ago. I don't remember who I bought it from, might have been direct from TSOs website. I remember that I got the version with the tapped holes in it, so this makes me think it is the later model.

Again, I have a TSC55, the cordless saw, so maybe between the chargers and the space the batteries take up on the saw is what causes it not to fit which I think its clear in the photos it will not.

My TS55 is the model prior to the R, about 4 years old. Not a cordless. The insert is a low profile plastic job, not a polystyrene version. I have the clamp on the GRS-16PE facing the back of the systainer. These pictures show the standard GRS-16PE and GRS-16 (with clamp facing towards the saw) also fits in the same spot. I do not think Festool have changed the size of the systainer, only the insert and as it is foam, easy to shape to accomodate the square

The GRS16-PE fits nicely in the pocket on the Festool guide rail bag, so that is where I carry it. Saw is not much good without rails, so doesn't matter to me if it's not in the Systainer with the saw.

@Bob D. - now I get it. Either of the two GRS-16 version will fit in the Systainer behind the TS-55 , but NOT when you have the more voluminous Cordless saw.Glad we have the FoamPac when that is what's needed.And thanks for the pictures David!

Oh, has anyone tried to fit the GRS-16 with a TS-75? let us know please.Hans

Logged

TSOproducts.com

Home of the GRS-16 and GRS-16 PE Guide Rail Squares - the MTR-18 Triangle and Work Holding solutions

Yes, I like the way my saw nests in the foam. I wouldn't want it banging around if I were to remove or alter the foam. I keep my chargers in the Systainer too and would take them with me if traveling to a remote work site, and I wouldn't want them banging around with the saw. I noticed in Dave's photo the TS55 lays flat in the Systainer, mine is set in on an angle.

I don't know what the problem is. I tried both the GRS-16 and GRS-16PE in the TSC-55 with the saw and all the kit. The dust bag fits easily beside the battery charger. Pics included that I took today. [/img]

OK, didn't see that before Dave. You only have the one charger or you only keep one charger in the Systainer?

In post #11 you can see how my two chargers are stowed to the right side-by-side and standing on end.

The Dust bag came stowed on the left and I added the extra blade in the slotbehind it.

Anyway, I have taken this thread WOT from where it started. Your review of theGRS16 and GRS16-PE was very good and shows that capabilities of the two withclarity. I find my GRS to be accurate and it speeds my work by reducing the time needed to setup/square the rail before a cut.

@JimH2 - do you have a suggestion? - what would constitute an improvement to the track?what would be a cost effective alternative and improvement to an aluminum extrusion to for guiding the plunge cut saw?

How about some responses , like " I wish the saw guiding system included or embodied the following . . . " ". . . at a cost comparable to . . .)

what are the shortcomings of the solutions including aftermarket accessory combinations which are available now?

Logged

TSOproducts.com

Home of the GRS-16 and GRS-16 PE Guide Rail Squares - the MTR-18 Triangle and Work Holding solutions

@JimH2 - do you have a suggestion? - what would constitute an improvement to the track?what would be a cost effective alternative and improvement to an aluminum extrusion to for guiding the plunge cut saw?

How about some responses , like " I wish the saw guiding system included or embodied the following . . . " ". . . at a cost comparable to . . .)

what are the shortcomings of the solutions including aftermarket accessory combinations which are available now?

I'm not criticizing the various solutions as they are all needed to overcome basic issues. I am saying that Festool needs to take a serious look at the design of their rails. There are a lot of aftermarket products for clamping rails together and alignment that they need to get in this market or tweak the rail design to avoid some of these issues. As an example why should I have to pay $100 to guarantee a straight connection between two rails or deal with alternative which is a super long rail with deflection issues. I have 2 of the FS3000's and both have deflections in the center. I have access to a 3rd with the same issue and have heard from others having the same problem. An improved connector might be able to solve the straightness issue when connecting 2 rails. Additionally Festool has a gazillion accessories and gadgets that cover almost every issue and use case. Surely they have ideas on how to address these most basic issues.

My solution was to look elsewhere and took me to Mafell and their rail system. I do realize that they just can't switch the rail system and leave everyone behind, but surely it must be possible to design a rail that accommodates any base plate changes that might be required to accommodate better connectors.

Festool USA does not pre-approve the contents of this website nor endorse the application or use of any Festool product in any way other than in the manner described in the Festool Instruction Manual. To reduce the risk of serious injury and/or damage to your Festool product, always read, understand and follow all warnings and instructions in your Festool product's Instruction Manual. Although Festool strives for accuracy in the website material, the website may contain inaccuracies. Festool makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of the material on this website or about the results to be obtained from using the website. Festool and its affiliates cannot be responsible for improper postings or your reliance on the website's material. Your use of any material contained on this website is entirely at your own risk. The content contained on this site is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.

Thanks Dave (and others) for your wonderful videos on this product, and Dave, that's a fantastic idea about squaring against the MFT fence as well!

I ordered mine (PE version) and have been using it for 2 weeks now and am extremely happy with the purchase. I had sold my Festool Angle Guide (which I had used less than 10 times) as I have never really needed to cut anything regularly apart from 90 degrees, so the changeover cost wasn't bad for a hobbyist.

I found that (as others have noted) it does end up using some of the capacity of the rail, so whereas in the past I could use a 1400 rail to crosscut a 1200mm sheet, this is no longer possible. And this particular project it was a bit inconvenient as I was cross cutting a 660mm panel, so my 800 rail which I normally use (for easier handling) wasn't able to be used. Fortunately it was only on a couple of cuts which weren't on my MFT (gosh I love the MFT!).